State v. Iowa District Court for Monroe County

TERNUS, Justice.

This case is a certiorari action brought by the State challenging the district court’s authority to sentence Clyde Gul-lion, a class “B” drug felon, to a ten-year indeterminate prison term. Upon our review, we think the court misconstrued Iowa Code section 901.10(1) (1999). Contrary to the district court’s interpretation of this statute, it does not permit the court to reduce the twenty-five-year indeterminate sentence normally imposed for class “B” felonies pursuant to Iowa Code section 902.9(1). Rather, as the State asserts, section 901.10(1) only authorizes the court to…